Motor-starting switch



July 24, 1928. 1,678,336

B. E. GETCHELL MOTOR STARTING SWITCH Filed April 4, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 r I2] I w W 5 45 ""mmewm @111: 5'

INVENTOR July 24, 192%.

B. E. GETCHELL.

MOTOR STARTING SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 4, 1925 July 24, 192&

B. E. GETCHELL MOTOR STARTING swncfi Filed April 1925 s Sheets-Sheet a if a v 72 42 41 Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL, 0F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUE- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNEC'JEIICU'ZIP, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MOTOR-STARTING SWITCH.

Application filed April 4, 1925. Serial No. 20,610.

The main object is to provide a full safety switch which is compact and et rel a Another object isto "provi e a switch of this character having interlocking means so arranged that the cover cannot be opened except when the switch is in the fully ofi position.

Another object is to provide a fused motor starting switch with an auxiliary cutout so that the motor may be started on an unfused circuit and then, by a continued seuence of movement of the operating handle, t e switch will be thrown into a position to include the fuses in the circuit. 7

Another object is to provide a simple switch of this ty e in which the auxiliary switch is operated in advance of the movement of'the main switch thus eliminating all danger of injury to the auxiliary switc or cutout.

Another object is to provide a combination of quick-break mechanism for the main switch together with a manual control of both the main switch and the auxiliary cutout switch for the separate fuses.

Fig. 1 is a front View of an enclosed type switch embodying my invention, the cover being shown open and part of the switch being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch removed from the casing.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the operating mechanism on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the end plates of the switch and the main carrier.

Fig. 6 rise. perspective view showing vari= ous parts of the switch operating mecha nism. I w

Fig. 'i' is an interior side view of part of the switch operatin mechanism, together with an interlock or holding the cover closed when the switch is closed,'and hold ing the switch open when the cover is open.

Fig. 8 is a side view of arts of the switch 0 crating mechanism in t e position which t ey normally occupy with the switch in the open circuit or ofi position.

F1g.-9 1s a similar view showing the parts in the preliminary fuse-shunting position.

Fig. 10is a similar view of the parts in the motor starting position. I Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the parts in normal running position with the auxiliary switch open.

Fig. 12 is a detail switch member.

In the form shown, what may be termed the switch proper has an insulating base 14 and stationary switch contacts .15 and 16 suitably secured to the base. A movable switch member 17 is carried by an insulatin member 18 pivoted in side brackets 19 an view of the auxiliary 20 so that the member 17 may be oscillated with a fuse clip 23 and the other fuse clip is connected to the contact 15 by the screw 26, strap 27, and binding nut 28. The other circuit terminal 29 is connected to switch contact 16.

The auxiliary switch or cutout has two contacts 30 and 31 connected, respectively, to the fuse clip 23 and the strap 27. The movable member 32 of this auxillary cutout switch is carried by an insulating member 33 which 'is pivotally supported in the brackets 19 and 20. The insulating member 21 is recessed to accommodate the auxiliary cut out switch, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the open circuit position, both the main switch member 17 and the auxili cutout switch member 32 are in the position shown in Fig. 3 so that there is no current flowing either through main switcher the auxand auxiliary switches are closed, as shown switch contact 31 to strap 27. As the resistance throu h this circuit is materially less than that t rough the fuse, of course practically all the current flows through the auxe iliary switch and there is substantially no load on the fuse and therefore no likelihood of the fuse being blown durin the short period of motor startin at w ich time the load is, of course, muc greater than in the running position. The position of the switch parts shown in Fig. 9 is intermediate the open circuit and starting positions, the main switch being open and the auxiliary switch being closed, although no current can flow on account of the main switch being open.

Although the broad invention is not limited to an enclosed type of switch, I have shown the switch as mounted in a casing and provided with quick make and break mechanism and safety interlocks. The casing in the preferred form consists of a box body 35 with a cover 36, preferably hinged thereto at one edge in any suitable manner. This may be provided with any suitable form of spring catch, such as 37, adapted to engage the edge 38 of an opening in the cover. The switch base 14 is secured in place in the box in any suitable manner, as for instance, by one or more screws 39. The carrier 18 has an end plate with a pin 40 which projects through a slot 41 in the bracket 20 and by means of which the main switch contact 17 is operated. The action of the main switch carrier 18 is effected partly by the handle 42 and partly by the spring 43 of the quick break mechanism. The handle is provided with a hub which in this instance is made up of one or more washers 43' on the outside of the box,

a bearing washer 44 which is rotatably suported in a'correspondingly shaped opemng 1n the wall of the box, a plate or cam 45 mounted on the inside of the box, one or more washers 46, and washers 47 and 48 between which is mounted a throwing member 49 and its bearin 50. These various parts are held together by bolts or rivets 51 so that the handle, washers 44, 46, 45, 47, and 48 always rotate or oscillate together. The throwing member 49 has slots 52 which permit it to rotate through a limited angle with respect to the bearing washer 50 and the rivets 51. arms, 53 and 54, adapted to engage the pro- "ection 40 at the end of the switch carrier 18.

his member 49 also has a projection 54' to which is connected a rod 55 which carries the throwing spri 43. The other end of the rod 55 is guide in a forked bracket 56 This throwing member has two I position.

which is secured to the inside of the casing at a point substantially on a level with the line of the axis of the handle and carrier. Normally the spring 43 holds the throwing member 49 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8, at which time the arm '53 holds the pin 40 of the switch carrier in the bottom of the slot 41 in the bracket 20. When the handle is moved from the open circuit position of Figs. 1, 2; and 8, the pins or rivets 51 pick up the throwing member 49 as soon as they reach the right hand limits of the slots 52 and thus rotate the member 49 so as to compress the spring 43. When the end of the rod 55 passes back of the position shown in Fig. 9, the pressure of the spring is exerted to throw the member 49 into the position shown in Fig. 10, at which time the arm 54 presses the pin 40 up against the end of the slot 41 with the main switch member in the closed circuit position. The slots 52 in the throwing member 49 permit the throwing member and switch member 17 to operate with a snap action beyond the control of the operator. When it is desired to open the circuit, the handle is moved in the reverse direction and the spring 43 acts to open the circuit with a quick break or snap action. The box may be provided with a stop member or members, such as 56', to limit the throw of the handle 42.

The auxiliary switch cutout is operated by the handle and by the quick break mechanism through the instrumentality of levers 60 and 61. The former has slots 62 and is supported on the rivets 51 between one of the Wat-hers 46 and the washer 47. The other lever, 61, is pivotally supported on the bracket 20 concentrically with the member 18, and the two levers are connected together by interlocking fork 63 and tongue 64. The spring 65 which is mounted on the hub has one end 66 secured to the casing and, therefore, stationary. The other end of the spring engages the projection 67 on the lever 60. The spring 65 is tensioned so that it always tends to move the lever 60 anti-clockwise, or left-handed; viewed from the right in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, and as viewed directly in Figs. 8 to 11. In the normal open circuit position of the switch, the lever 61 presses against the stop 68 which projects outwardly from the bracket or side plate 20. The auxiliary switch carrier 33 is provided with a crank pin 69 which projects into a slot in the outer end of the lever 61. This slot is cut so as to hold and move the crank pin in the proper manner. One end 70 of the slot is narrow and serves to normally hold the auxiliary switch member in the 0 en circuit The lever 61 is provi ed with a a shoulder 71 which engages the crank pin 69 to move the auxiliary switch member into position of Fig. 8 toward the position of Fig. 9. The end 72 of the slot serves to hold the crank pin of the auxiliary switch mem her in the closed circuit position in the motor starting position of Fig. 10. When the handle is released from the starting. position of Fig. 10, the spring 65, which is stronger than the spring 43,'rotates the lever 60, the throwing member 49, and the lever 61 to the position shown in Fig. 11. The edge 73 of the lever 61 serves as a cam and engages the crank pin 68 of the auxiliary switch member so as to move that member to the open circuit position. Of course as soon as the shoulder 74 of the lever 61 engages the pin 68, as shown in Fig. 11, the spring 65 ceases to have any eflect upon the hub and the throwing member except that it holds the lever 60 and rivets 51 in the position of Fig. 11 and thus serves as an abutment for the spring 43. When it is desired to open the circuit, the handle is moved from the running position anti-clockwise, as shown in Fig. 11, until the throwing spring 43 snaps out beyond the center of the hub and opens the circuit with a quick break snap action.

- durin which time of courze, the spring 65 simply holds the levers and 61' and the auxiliary switchmember in the open circuit position.

The narrow slots 72 and positively hold or lock the auxiliary switch member in its on and off positions by the engagement of the crank pin 69.

The main switch. is yieldingly held in its ofl position by the spring 43 which pretses the member 49 against the pin 40 of the main switch carrier member 18. This holds the pin 40 in the bottom of the slot 41 (see Fig. 8). In a similar manner the spring 43 holds the main switch member in its on position as shown in Fig. 11.

To revent tampering with the switch when it is in the=closed circuit position, I

provide a latch 7 5 which is pivoted at 76 in the casing. This latch has a hook 76 adapted to interlock with a shoulder 77 on the member 45 and also has a hook 78 adapted to interlock with a pin 79 on the cover. This latch also has a shoulder 80 adapted to be en aged by the pin 7 9 when the cover is closed. A spring 81 presses. the latch member so as to cause the hook 76 to interlock with the shoulder 77 on the hub plate when the switch is in the open circuit position, and the cover is open and thus prevents the switch from being operated. When the cover is closed, the pin 79 holds the latch in the position shown in Fig. 7 so that it cannot interfere with the action of the switch so long as the cover is closed. If the switch is in the open circuit position so tha-tthe shoul dor 77 stands to the right of the hook 76, as viewed imlFig. 7, then the cover may be opened. This latch and locking washer or plate 45 are so designed that the cover is interlocked andcannot be opened just as soon as the parts are moved in the preliminary shunting position of F i 9, and even before the main circuit is close preliminary to the starting position of Fig. 10.

This construction is very compact, rugged and reliable, and has made it possible to attain satisfactory motor starting conditions in a comparatively inexpensive switch, doing away with many of the complications previously consideredv necessary in motor starting switches.

I claim:

1. The combination in a fused switch construction of a quick-make and quick break, double break, main switch, a double break auxiliary fuse disconnecting switch, coacting means for causing a predetermined sequence of movement of the auxiliary switch and the main switch by the normal manual operation of the main switch, said co-acting means including means for holding the main switch and the auxiliary switch in their respective on and oil" positions.

2. In a quick-make and quick-break motor starting switch, a main switch comprising stationary contacts and a rotatable lost-motion switch member adapted to co-act therewith, fuse means, an auxiliary switch having a movable member for shunting said fuse means, means for moving said auxiliary switch to fully close the shunting circuit in advance of the closing of the circuit through the main switch and to automatically operate said auxiliary switch to fully open said circuit in advance of the opening of the main circuit, means for holding the auxiliary switch positively in its on and off positions, and spring means for holding said main switch in its on and oil positions.

3. In a motor starting switch of the quickmake and quick-break type, a main switch having stationary contacts and a rotatable lost-motion switch member adapted to coact therewith, a protective fuse, an auxiliary switch havinga movable member for shortcircuiting said .fuse, manually operable means for fully closing said auxiliary switch in advance of the closing of the circuit through the main switch, automatically operable means for fully opening the auxiliary switch in advance of the openingof the.

main switch, quick-break mechanism ada ted to operate said main switch, means 'or holding the auxiliary switch in its on and oil positions and means for holding said main switch in its on and off positions.

4. A motor starting switch comprising a movable main switch member, an auxiliary switch member, manually operable means for sequentially operating said switch members, quick-make and quick-break mechanism for operating the main switch member, means for automatically operating the auxiliary Hill switch member when the manually operable means is released, manual means for operating the quick-make and quick-break mechanism, means for holding the auxiliary switch positively in its on and off positions and means for yieldingly holding the main switch in its on and off ositions.

5. In a quick-make an quick-break switch, a rotatable'main switch member, a rotatable auxiliary switch member, a lever for operating said auxiliary switch member, a handle having a lost motion connection with said lever for moving said main switch member and said auxiliary switch member, snap action mechanism having lost motion connection with said main switch member, and means separate from said snap action mechanism for moving said lever and said auxiliary switch member from the starting to the running position. I

6. In a motor starting switch, a rotatable main switch member, snap action mechanismfor moving said switch member to the on and off ositions, an auxiliary switch member, 9. ever for operating the auxiliary switch member, an operating handle, means controlled thereby for operating said lever and said snap actionmechanism, a spring for moving said lever and said handle in dependently of the snap action mechanism when said handle is released.

7. A switch comprising an insulating base, main switch contacts carried thereby, a centrally pivoted rotatable double break main switch member co-acting with said contacts, an insulating bridge covering said switch member and said contacts. fuse contacts carried by said bridge, fuse shunting contacts connected to said fuse contacts, an auxiliary double break switch member to cooperate with said shunting contacts, manually operable means for sequentially operating said auxiliary switch member to fully close the circuit between said fuse shunting contacts before closing the circuit through said'main switch, and to fully open said circuit prior to the opening of the main switch and snap action mechanism coacting with said manually operable means for opening the main switch with a quick-break.

8. A motor starting switch comprising a main switch member and a fuse shunting switch member and means for sequentially operating said switch members, said means including a pivoted lever having a cam slot, said fuse shunting member havmgan operating crank with a pin projecting into said slot, said slot having two arc-shaped portions, one of greater radius than the other; said slot also having two cam-like walls for moving said fuse shunting member at different times.

9. In a quick-make and quick-break switch, a rotatable double break switch member, a rotatable double break auxiliary switch member, a lever for operating said auxiliary switch member, a handle having a lost motion connection with said lever, snap action mechanism havin lost motion connection with said switch member, and a spring separate from said snap action mechanism'for moving said lever and said auxiliary switch member from the starting to the running position.

member, alever for operating the auxiliary switch member, an operating handle, means controlled thereby for operating said lever and said switch member, a spring for operating said lever in opposition to said handle, and quick break mechanism for operating said main switch member, said quick break mechanism being partially under control of the handle.

12. A quick-make 'and quick-break switch comprising an insulating base, switch contacts carried thereby, a centrally pivoted rotatable switch member co-acting with said contacts, an insulating bridge covering said switch member and said contacts, fuse clips carried by said bridge, short-circuitingcontacts carried by said fuse clips, an auxiliary switch member to cooperate with said shortcircuiting contacts, and manually operable means for sequentially operating sa1d auxiliary switch member to fully short-circuit said fuse clips before closing the circuit through said main switch, and to fully open said short circuit prior to the opening of the main switch.

13. In a motor starting switch, an insulating base, a bracket carried thereby, a main switch member rotatably carried by said bracket and having a pin projecting through a slot in said bracket, an auxiliary switch member pivotally supported by said bracket, a lever pivotally supported by said bracket and having'a cam slot, said auxiliary member having a crank pin projecting into said cam slot, and manually operable means for moving said lever and said main switch member.

14. In a motor starting switch, an insulating base, a bracket carried thereb a main switch member rotatably carried by said bracket and having a pm projecting through a slot in said bracket, an auxiliary switch member pivotally supported by said bracket, a. lever pivotally supported by said bracket and having a cam slot, said auxiliary member having crank projecting into said cam slot, manually operable means for moving said lever and said main switch member, and snap action means for operating said switch member.

15. A motor starting switch comprising a main switch member, an auxiliary switch member, a lever for operating said auxiliary switch member, a handle having a hub and lost motion means of connection with said lever, a spring on said hub for operating said lever in one direction, and snap action mechanism having a lost motion connection with said hub and with said main switch member.

16. A motor starting switch including a main switch having appurtenant contacts, an auxiliary short-circuiting switch having appurtenant contacts, an operating handle having a free-movement connection 'With said main switch, an operating spring for throwing said main swltch to fully on or fully off position by the manual movement of the operating handle, a second spring,

acting in opposition to the operating spring to return said handle to an intermediate po= sition after the closing movement ofsaid handle, and latchin means for retaining said operating hand e in said intermediate position while said switch remains in runnin position,

1%. A motor starting switch includin an insulating base, switch contacts mounts on said -base, side brackets secured to said base, a. blade carrier pivotally'mounted in said brackets, switch blades mounted on said carrier and arranged for double-break cooperation with said contacts, a fuse block mounted on said brackets over the switch members, pairs of fuse clips mounted on said fuse block, a short-circuiting contact .connected with each fuse cli a short-circuiting blade pivotally mounte between each respective pair of short-circuiting contacts, quick-action means for operating said switch, and manually operable means for sequentially operating said short-circuiting blades with respect to the main switch.

BENJANEN E. GETCHELL. 

